Abrading machine



July 5, 1938. P. H. HuTcHlNsoN YABRADING MACHINE Filed Deo. l0, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /9//5/4 TTU/mix July 5, 1938. P. H. HuTcHlNsoN ABRADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 5, 193s.

ABRADINGMACHINE `Filed Dec. 1o, 1935 s sheets-sheet s mllll-IIIII P. H. HurcHlNsoN 2,122,942 I ,Patented July 5, 193s UNITED srA'rEs PATENT oFI-lclz This invention relates to abrading machines and comprises all of the features of novelty herein disclosed. In a cylindrical roller bearing, the roll-- ers are frequently restrained against endwise creep by flanges or :the like on the race rings. It is highly desirable to have the rollers all of the same .lengthwith the end surfaces of each roller revolving in a-pla'ne exactly parallel to the guide much as -any Awabble motion of the ends causes undue wear, noise and other undesirable eiiects including an impairment of. thrust capacity.

An object of the invention therefore isfto provide a precision end grinding machine for'grinding rollers or the like to a precise length and-with` their end faces perpendicular to theiraxes Another object isto provide a precision machine having improved/means to guide andcontrol a roller or the like as it is passed acrossan abrad- 2 ing member. lAnother object is to provide improved means to present articles to an abrading machine to the end that the articles will enter a grinding throat and pass through it in accurate position. Still another object is to provide means for insuring controlled rotation of a roller or the like as it is presented to an abrading member and to prevent the abrading member from taking control of the roller or getting it out of accurate position. 1

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of this character, the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. In its broader aspects, the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific construction selected for lllustrativepurpcses in the accompanying 'drawings in which Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the machine with portions in vertical section, the grinding wheels being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation. one o f the grinding wheels being omitted.

Fig. 3 is an end view of a 'chute supporting bracket with the chute in section.

Fig. 4 is a cross .sectional view of a portion of a rotary carrier or feed wheel, the section being taken on the line 4I of Fig. 5.-

` Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion ofthe carrier .of Fig. 4. 50 Fig. 6 is a side view of a supporting standard.

Fig. 'I is a plan view of the standard. Fig. 8 .is a side view of a pressure shoe audits side guides.

Fig. 9 is an inside edge view of the device of Fig.

' 55 8 showing also one of its supporting studs.

flanges, or perpendicular to the roller. axes, inas' `accuracy is assured.

Fig. 10 is cross sectional view of the entrance guides taken'about on the line ill-I l of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a cr Isectional view of the exit guides taken about on 'the line i I--l I of Fig. 8.

Fig. -12 is an inside view of a portion of the arcu- `Vate shoe and itsentrance guides.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper end portion of the shoe.

Figi 14 is a cross sectional view similar to Eig. 10 but showing the shoe and guides adapted for barrel rollers.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a portion of a.- carrier l with pockets adapted for barrel rollers.

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional view showing a barrel roller in grinding position between its pressure shoe and its regulating wheel.

, First outlining the general operation, elongated articles which are to be ground with the ends ilat and parallel and at right angles to their axes (such as cylindrical orgbarrel-shaped rollers for roller bearings) are fed sidewise down an inclined chute to notches inva rotary carrier, the rollers being then supported on the outer periphery of`a work-rolling ring or regulating wheel which rotates at twice the speed o'f the carrier. As the rollers travel between two opposed, radial faced grinding wheels which grind the ends, they are urged by an arcuate shoe against the periphery of the work-rolling ring or regulating wheel.

The pressure of the rollers against the .driven work-rolling ring causes the rollers to rotate on their axes as they pass between the grinding wheels, and the rollers are kept from cooking or twisting with respect to the work-rolling ring by the notches in the carrier. The rollers travel between the work-rolling ring and the shoe in a manner analogous to the travel of bearing rollers between aninner and an outer race and the carrier acts somewhat like the separator of a' roller bearing so that the grinding of the rollers occurs under'conditions corresponding to running conditions of such rollers in an actual bearing and great The numeral Il indicates a supporting platform secured bycap screws I2 to the base I4 of a standard or web ii having an enlargement or journal box I8. One end face of the latter has an annular recess 2li with a number of holes 22 for coil springs 2l which press against one side of a sealing ring 2 6.V 'Ihe ring is held from rotation by a pin 28 entering a hole 3l in the enlargement il. The sealing ring pressesV laterally against a face plate or head 32 on a hollowl sleeve 3l and excludes'foreign matter Afrom bearing bushings II and, 3l which support'the sleeve tor rotaticn.`

- 'I'he face plate 32 has an annular recess for a sealing'ring 4i. which is urged.l by coil springs 42 end of a shaft or spindle 46 which is journalled for rotation in bearing bushings 40 of the sleeve 34.

To drive the shaft 4B. a sprocket wheel 50 is keyed to it and is driven by a sprocket chain not shown from any suitable source, the chain being guided by an idler roll 54 rotatably mounted on a stud 56 on a bracket 58 which is attached by screws 60 to the bottom of the platform |0. To drive the sleeve 34, a gear 64 is keyed to the shaft 46 `between a thrust washer 66 and a spacer 68 andmeshes with a larger gear 10 which is journalled on a bearing bushing 12 on a supporting stud 14. A spacing sleeve 16 and a gear 18 are secured to the gear 10 by a pin 80, the gear 18 meshing with a gear 82 which is secured by a i key 84 to-the' sleeve 34 between .a thrust washer I0 and a clamping nut 88. 'Ihe ratio of the gears is preferably so selected that the sleeve 34 is driven at just half `the speed of the shaft 46. An oil cup 80 supplies oil to a port 82 communicating with radial ports 84 and an inclined port 96 to lubricate the bearings.

A vfeed ring or carrier |00 is secured in a notch of the face plate 32 by screws |02 and a dowel pin |04 and has an overhanging rim |06 which is cut through at intervals to form notches or pockets |00 receiving the rollers R to be ground. 'I'he notches are substantially semi-circular but larger than the rollers to have a little'clearance with the latter, each notch having a cut away forward edge |08.which facilitates entry of a roller from a feed chute. A work-rolling ringv or regulating wheel ||0 is secured in a notch of the face plate 44 by screws ||2 and a. dowel pin v| I4 and its periphery lies within the rim |06 to frictionally engage the middle portions of the rollers where the latter project through the notches or pockets |08. Fastened to a pad H6 on the standard I6 is a chute-supporting plate Ill having a raised lip |20 at one side and an upright |22 at the other side between which an inclined chute |24 is secured by a toplclamping plate |26. The chute is U-shaped in cross section and has a cover plate |28. The rollers gravltate downwardly in the chute and enter sidewise' one by one into the notches or pockets |08 as the carrier |00 rotates. The rollers are thus carried upwardly between arcuate guides |00 which are welded to the side walls of the chute.

' As the rollers are carried beyond the vertical center of the carrier |00, they enter between an arcuate shoe |40 and the work-rolling ring or regulating wheel 0. The shoe |40 has its inner concave edge rigid and of unvarying radius. Itv

isspring-pressed towards the rollers as will appear and has side rails |42 raised slightly above a central recess |44 so that the rollers only engage near their ends with the shoe. vEntrance guides |40 are secured to the sides of the shoe at the upper end thereof and exit guides |48 are secured to the sides of the shoe at the lower' end thereof,

Il the guides in each case extending close to the periphery bf the opposed grindingwheels G. The shoe and the guides have holes |50 and are loosely supported at each end on a stud |52 of smaller diameter than the hole |50, the shoe with its 'l0 guides being guided between'a collar |54 and a washer |50 lwhich is clamped by a nut against a shoulder on the stud. The stud has a support- A ing portion |50 adjustably fastened by set screws |50 in a horizontally elongated hole |60 lc f a u bearing lug |62 on the standard I6. This adjustment is to position the shoe initially so it will have proper play on the stud |52. A pin |64 projects against one side of a faceplate or head 44 on the from each end of the' shoe and is connected by a coil spring |66 to an adjusting screw |68. One of the screws |66 is threaded in a post |10 projecting from a lug |12 on the standard i6 and the other is threaded in a lug |14 of the platform I0. v

The entrance end of the shoe has a rounded nose |14 (Fig. 13) and the entrance ends of the guides |46 are flared as at |16. The guides are longer than the others and insures the crowding of one end of the roller against such opposed guide preparatory to engaging the grinding wheels. The movable jaw has a flared or bevelled face |84 to avoid any obstruction to entry of the roller.

As a roller is about to enter between the grinding wheels, it is rotated on its axis and bodily traversedbetween the arcuate shoe and the regulating wheel which form a controlling guide therefor, the entrance vguides tending to hold the roller aligned crosswise. The rotary carrier and its pockets retard the advance of the roller and preventthe grinding wheels taking control as the first heavy cut occurs. The very important function of keepingthe roller exactly at right angles to the parallel, fiat faces of the grinding wheels during grinding is produced by the threepoint support afforded by the spaced rails |42 which engage the roller near the ends While the narrower ring or regulating wheel engages the roller near the middle. The action is enhanced by having the radius of the shoe as small as is consistent with an ample travel of the roller while between the grinding wheels. In the illustrrted construction, the roller has a suflicient travel to make it turn on its axis at least twice and suchrotation during grinding further insures that the opposite ends will be ground exactly parallel and at right angles to the axis. The rotating roller wipes all the way across the wheels to the inner edges and then wipes back to the outer periphery -so that the roller dresses the wheels and keeps themfiat. Most of the time there is only one roller between the grinding wheels, or

never more than two, this being due to the spacing of the roller pockets of the feed ring. Hence there is no chance for one or more intermediate and smaller rollers to be free from full control in respect to rotation on their axes, bodily travel or location as they are pressed betweenthe rigid edge of the shoe and the opposed edge of the regulating wheel. 'I'he exit portion of the Vshoe |40 is curved near the grinding wheels but merges into a tangent which lets the finished roller drop out.

In operation, the -rollers are fed down the chute |24 and fall one by one into the notches or pockets |08 of the rotary carrier |00., They pass asv bodily but the carrierlll restrains or retards them and regulates their passage. As the rollers enter between thewheels they are already rotat- 'ing because they are urgedby the swing-Pressed shoe Ml against the work-rotating ring lll .which turns at twice the speed of the carrier. The rollers must therefore roll on their axes as they pass between the wheels and as they wipe across the latter, ilrst towards the center of the wheels and then back to the outside. The three-point support of the rollers keeps them aligned and the turning of the rollers further insuresthe' grinding of both ends perpendicular to their axes.

vIn Fig. 14, the shoe |90 is modiiied for convex. or barrel-shaped rollers, its edge Il! being concave and provided with a relief groove Ill. Side guides |36 with a movablejaw |98 similar to the side guides |46 and movable jaw Ill are also employed. With rollers of this shape, it is also desirable, as indicated in Fig. 15, to make the carrier lill with pockets 2lb which are curved to nt the rollers lengthwise, the rollers projecting through the rim of the carrier at the slots 2l2. 'I'he ring or regulating wheel lil is preferably straight crosswise to engage the curved rollers at the middle 0f their lengths. In the case of 'straight rollers, the narrow width of the wheel makes it engage the rollers only near their middle f portions.

I claim: y

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a worktreating throat, at least one of said members being an abrading member, a driven regulating wheel having a. smooth peripheral surface projecting into the throat to frictonally engage the periphery of a round work-piece, anda'shoe extending between the members and having an arcuate edge substantially concentric with 'the periphery of the regulating wheel to `form therewith a guide for the work, the guide being open at the ends for admission and discharge of workpieces, the wheel and the shoe frictionally engaging opposite sides: of the work to cause the work to turn on its axis and roll circumferenally of the regulating wheel, and means for feeding work-pieces into the guide in such spaced apartV relation that the frictional engagement of the wheel and the shoe withthe work is limited to two workpieces; `substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, a

pair of members spaced apart to form a worktreating throat, at least one of said members being an abrading member, a driven regulating wheel having a smooth peripheral surface projecting into the throat to frictionally engage the periphery of around work-piece, a pressure shoe extending between the members and having a rigid arcuate edge substantially concentric with the periphery of the regulating wheel to form Y an' arcuate work guide therewith, the guide being ancabrading member, a driven regulating wheel projecting into the-throat, a shoe curving about the periphery of the regulating wheel and urged towards the latter, and a driven work-carrier projecting into the throat between the shoe and the regulating wheel; .substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, a pairof members spaced apart to form a work'- treatlng throat, at least one of the members-being an abrading member, a driven regulating wheel projecting into the throat, a shoe curving about the periphery of the regulating wheel. andl a rotary, 'work carrier having work-receiving pockets movable through the throat and between the regulating wheel and the shoe; substantially i as described.

5. Ina device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a work-treating throat, at least-one ofthe members being an abrading member, a driven regulating wheel projecting into the throat, a shoe curving about the periphery of the regulating wheel, a work-carrier` having a portion movable through the space between the regulating wheel and the shoe. and means for driving the work-carrier at half the speed of the regulating wheel; substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a worktreating throat, at least one of the members being 'an abrading member, a driven regulating Wheel projecting into the throat, a shoe curving about 'the periphery of the regulating wheel, a rotary work-carrier having work-receiving pockets distributed about the periphery of the regulating wheel and spaced apart at such angular distance that a maximum of two can be in the throat at one time, and means for driving th'e work carrier at half the speed of the regulating wheel; suby stantially as described.

'7. In a device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a. worktreating throat, at least one of the members being 'an abrading member, a driven regulating wheel projecting into the throat, a shoe curving about lthe periphery of the regulating Wheel, and the comprising a regulating wheel with a smooth cylindrical periphery and a shoe I having an arcuate work engaging surface" of unvarying radius substantially concentric with and opposed to the periphery of the regulatingwheel to cause an interposed work-piece to roll on the regulating wheel circumferentially thereof, one of said last .named parts engaging the work-piece near the.

comprising a narrow regulating wheel to engage the middle portion of the work-piece, and a shoe curved about the periphery of the regulating wheel and having -spaced rails engaging the workpiece near the end portions'thereof substantially as described.

10. Ina device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a worktreating throat, at least one of said members being anabrading member, and means for passing a round Work-piece bodily through the throat, while turning the Work-piece on its axis, said means comprising a driven regulating wheel, an arcuate shoe having a surface substantially concentric with the regulating wheel, and a drivenA carrier having work-receiving pockets providing for free rotation of the work on its axis but retarding bodily movement of the work when the work is engaged by the abrading member; sub-- stantially as described.

1l. In a device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a worktreating throat, at least one of said members being an abrading member, and means for causing a round work-piece to pass bodily through the grinding throat While turning on its axis, said means comprising a driven regulating wheel, an

` arcuate shoe having a surface substantially con.

centric with the regulating wheel, a driven carrier having pockets rotatablyl supporting the work-piece, means for driving the carrier at half the speed of the regulating wheel, and means for causing a'yielding movement of approach between the shoe and the regulating wheel; substantially as described.

12. In a device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a worktreating throat, at least one of said members being an abrading member, and a driven workrotation on their axes while being ground, the

pockets being so spaced that a maximum o'f two with their contained work-pieces can be in the throat at one time, and means extending into the i throat for compelling the work-pieces to turn constantly on their axes;'substantially as described.

13. In a device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a worktreating throat, at least one of said members being an abrading member, a driven regulating wheel having a smooth periphery with aportion of its periphery in the throat, a shoe having an arcuate guiding surface substantially concentric] with the regulating wheel td form a work guide therewith, the guide being cpen at one end of the shoe to admit work-pieces thereto, and a spring for urging the shoe towards the regulatingy wheel` to cause interposed work to turn on its axis and roll circumferentially of the driven regulating wheel; substantially as described. l

14. In a device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a worktreating throat, at least one of said members b eing an abrading member, a driven regulating wheel having a smooth work-engaging periphery with `a portion of its periphery in the throat, a shoerhavinga rigid arcuate guiding surface of unvarying radius substantially concentric with an'd opposed to.the` periphery of the regulating wheel where such periphery projects into the throat, supporting studs for the ends of the shoe and providing lost motion therefor, and springs for urging the'shoe towards thev regulating wheel and against the interposed Work whereby th\l work is caused to roll circumferentially of the regulating wheel; substantially as described.

15. In a device of the character described, a

' trolling the passage thereof through the throat,

said carrier projecting into the throat and having work-receiving pockets, and relatively rotatable work-engaging members for rolling the Workpieces on theirvaxes as they pass through the throat, said work-.engaging members having Work-engaging surfaces concentric to one another and to the carrier and also projecting into the throat; substantially as described.

16. In a device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to forma worktreating throat, at least one of said members being an abrading member, relatively rotatable work-engaging members for rolling Work-pieces on their axes as they pass through the throat, said relatively rotatable work-engaging members projecting into the throat and comprising an arcuately concave member opposed to and concentric with an arcuately convex member, and means for preventing the abrading member from taking control of the passage of the work-pieces being an abrading member, relatively rotatable work-engaging members concentric with one another and providing an arcuate channel for rolling work-pieces on their axes before they reach the throat, and a driven carrier having workreceiving pockets for retarding movement of the work-pieces when they are engaged by the abrading member; substantially as described.

18. In a device of the character described, a pair of members spaced apart to form a worktreating throat therebetween, at least one of said members being an abrading member, and means for guiding work-pieces to the throat comprising a friction wheel and a shoe having an arcuate edge concentric therewith, a portion of said concentric edge being outside of the throat, a side guide extending into close proximity to the abrading member and alongside the periphery of the friction wheel, and a spring pressed guide opposed to`said side guide for urging a work-pieceV -against the latter; substantially asdescribed.

19. In a device of the character described, a pair of' members spaced apart to form a Worktreating throat therebetween, at least one of said members being an abrading member, and means for guiding work-pieces to the throat comprising concentric members for frictionally engaging the work both inside and outside the throat, a side guide extending into close proximity to the abrading member and alongside the space be.

tween the concentric members, and a guide opposed t0 said side guide and comprising a fixed section anda spring pressed section; substan- I tion of said concentric edge being` between the members and another portion projecting therefrom, and a. spring pressed guide opposed to said side guide for urging a work-piece against the latter; substantially as described.

21. In a device of the character described, an abrading member, a driven regulating wheel projecting across and overlapping the abrading member, a rotary carrier having a rim portion projecting over and vsurrounding theperiphery of the regulating wheel, and the projecting rim of carrier having work-receiving pockets; substantialiy as described.

22. In a device of the character described, an abrading member, a driven regulating wheel projecting across and overlapping the abrading member, a rotary carrier having a rim portion projecting overand surrounding the periphery of the regulating wheel and provided with workreceiving pockets which break through to the regulating wheel, and means for urging the workpieces lagainst the wheel; substantially *as described.

23. In a device of the character described, an abrading member. a rotary regulating wheel and a rotary carrier each having portions of its periphery projecting across and overlapping the abrading member, and driving gearing interposed between the wheel and the carrier for positively driving one at a diiierent speed from the other: substantially as described.

24. In a precision end grinding machine, a pair of grinding wheels spaced apart to form a grinding throat, and means for causing a round workpiece to pass bodily through the throat while turning on an axis perpendicular to the wheels,

said means comprising a driven regulating wheel projecting into the throat and between the wheels, means for urging the work-piece against the regulating wheel. and a driven carrier having an open work-receiving pocket supporting the work for free rotation, said urging means being non rotary and concentric with the regulating wheel;

substantially as described.

25. In a precisionend grinding machine. a pair of parallel, ilat faced grinding wheels, and means for traversing round work-pieces bodily between the wheels while rotating each workpiece on an axis perpendicular to the grinding wheels, said (means comprising relatively rotatable arcuate members having rigid and substantially concentric edges engaging the periphery of the work-piece and pressing the work-piece between them to insure rotation of the workpiece on its axis with bodily translation thereof, said arcuate members extending partly within and partly without the space between the wheels,

and means for introducing work-'pieces between the arcuate members at intervals to eiect spacing of the Work-pieces; substantially as described.

26. In a precision .end grinding machine for` to the inner one and back to the outer periphery,

saidarcuate edge being of unvarying radius concentric with theperi'phery of the regulating wheel,l

means for pressing said shoe towards the regulating wheel to frictionally grip the periphery of the work between said arcuate edge and the edge of the regulating wheel, and means for introducing work-pieces at such intervals as to limit contact of said edges to two work-pieces; substantially as described.

27. In a precision end grinding machine for round work. a pair of parallel members spaced apart to form a grinding throat of uniform width, at least one of the members being a grinding wheel, a driven regulating wheel having a smooth peripheral surface projecting into the throat, an arcuate shoe in the throat and having a. rigid concave edge of unvarying radius curved about and opposed to the periphery of the regulating .wheel to form an arcuate work guide therewith,

means for pressing the shoe and the 4regulating wheel one towards the other to frictionally grip the periphery 'of the work-pieces, and means for insuring a spacing of the work-pieces in the guide such that the frictional gripping is limited to two work-pieces; substantially as described.

V28. In a precision end grinding machine for round work, a pair of parallel members spaced apart to form a grinding throat of uniform width, at least one of the members being a grinding wheel, a driven regulating'wheel having a smooth peripheral surface projecting into the throat, an arcuate shoe 'in the throat and having a concave edge curved about and opposed to the peripheral surface of the regulating wheel to form an arcuate work Yguide therewith, means for urging the relation that all work-pieces therein will be in,

pressure engagement with the shoe and the regulating wheel: substantially as described.

Pmupn. 

